Bayou Cane fire chief says station to reopen ‘as soon as possible’

Published: Sunday, December 23, 2012 at 9:35 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, December 23, 2012 at 9:35 p.m.

On Friday, a marsh fire encroached on Savanne Road, damaging five telephone poles, and the closest Bayou Cane fire station had recently been closed.

Bayou Cane Fire Chief Ken Himel said he plans to reopen the station at Savanne and La. 311 “as soon as possible” after he rearranged personnel and equipment since residents voted down an increased property tax for the fire district.

In the meantime, the department is working with the Bayou Black Fire Department — which helped Bayou Cane extinguish Friday’s fire — as well as the Schriever and Coteau departments.

The fire did not affect any life or property besides the poles, and although officials closed Savanne Road around 4:45 p.m. to fight the fire, the road reopened that same evening.

Fire board Chairman Jeff Teuton said a few people and several council members have inquired about the station’s closing, “rightfully so,” but “we’re gonna have it open real soon.”

Himel said he cannot give an exact date because officials with the Jefferson Parish Fire Department have volunteered to help Bayou Cane figure out how many people, what equipment and which vehicles the station should be staffed with to maintain the fire rating for property insurance rates.

After the property tax increase was voted down, he moved the department’s smaller squad truck, usually housed at the Savanne and 311 station, to the central station. The two firefighters who know how to run the truck were also moved to the central station. They were the only ones who manned the station, so that move shut it down Nov. 12. The station responds to the fewest number of calls of all four stations.

The Bayou Cane department held a town hall meeting before the election, and Himel said he realized many people were annoyed that Bayou Cane fire trucks were responding to minor medical calls.

Himel has asked that 911 officials no longer send Bayou Cane firefighters to minor medical calls, focusing on more serious ones such as shootings, stabbings and car crashes with confirmed injuries.

That alone will likely cut back on the number of times fire trucks have to go to incidents that aren’t fires, so men and equipment will likely be returned to Savanne and 311, Himel said.

“We’re thinking we’re saving more money by cutting the number of calls we respond to, rather than having one truck go to calls all over the district,” Himel said.

Board member Suzanne Carlos said “it’s a matter for debate” whether the station needed to be closed in the first place, but “we knew it wouldn’t be long.” The Savanne and 311 station is the station closest to her house.

“I really trust in these guys and what they do,” Carlos said of the Bayou Cane chief and firefighters. “They care about this community as much as I do.”

Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or Katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.

<p>On Friday, a marsh fire encroached on Savanne Road, damaging five telephone poles, and the closest Bayou Cane fire station had recently been closed.</p><p>Bayou Cane Fire Chief Ken Himel said he plans to reopen the station at Savanne and La. 311 “as soon as possible” after he rearranged personnel and equipment since residents voted down an increased property tax for the fire district.</p><p>In the meantime, the department is working with the Bayou Black Fire Department — which helped Bayou Cane extinguish Friday's fire — as well as the Schriever and Coteau departments.</p><p>The fire did not affect any life or property besides the poles, and although officials closed Savanne Road around 4:45 p.m. to fight the fire, the road reopened that same evening.</p><p>Fire board Chairman Jeff Teuton said a few people and several council members have inquired about the station's closing, “rightfully so,” but “we're gonna have it open real soon.”</p><p>Himel said he cannot give an exact date because officials with the Jefferson Parish Fire Department have volunteered to help Bayou Cane figure out how many people, what equipment and which vehicles the station should be staffed with to maintain the fire rating for property insurance rates.</p><p>After the property tax increase was voted down, he moved the department's smaller squad truck, usually housed at the Savanne and 311 station, to the central station. The two firefighters who know how to run the truck were also moved to the central station. They were the only ones who manned the station, so that move shut it down Nov. 12. The station responds to the fewest number of calls of all four stations.</p><p>The Bayou Cane department held a town hall meeting before the election, and Himel said he realized many people were annoyed that Bayou Cane fire trucks were responding to minor medical calls.</p><p>Himel has asked that 911 officials no longer send Bayou Cane firefighters to minor medical calls, focusing on more serious ones such as shootings, stabbings and car crashes with confirmed injuries.</p><p>That alone will likely cut back on the number of times fire trucks have to go to incidents that aren't fires, so men and equipment will likely be returned to Savanne and 311, Himel said.</p><p>“We're thinking we're saving more money by cutting the number of calls we respond to, rather than having one truck go to calls all over the district,” Himel said.</p><p>Board member Suzanne Carlos said “it's a matter for debate” whether the station needed to be closed in the first place, but “we knew it wouldn't be long.” The Savanne and 311 station is the station closest to her house.</p><p>“I really trust in these guys and what they do,” Carlos said of the Bayou Cane chief and firefighters. “They care about this community as much as I do.”</p><p>Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or Katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.</p>